What to pack for Iceland in summer

Summer in Iceland averages 10–13°C with wind and rain that arrive without warning. Pack waterproof trousers as well as a jacket, an eye mask for the midnight sun, and swimwear you can reach easily.

64 items · 7-day hiking, mild weather, with a checked bag · tick them off, print, or adjust the list to your trip below

Wind is the story, not cold

Ten degrees is fine. Ten degrees with a 20 m/s crosswind carrying rain horizontally is a different proposition, and it is a normal Tuesday. The single most useful item is a genuinely windproof, genuinely waterproof shell — and the item most people wish they'd brought is waterproof over-trousers. A jacket alone means arriving at a waterfall dry on top and soaked from the waist down.

The midnight sun is not a metaphor

In June it never properly gets dark. Curtains in guesthouses are often thin, campervans have none worth the name, and your body will not volunteer to sleep at 11pm in broad daylight. An eye mask is a small item that decides whether the trip is restful. Earplugs help too if you're near a campsite or a road.

Swimwear lives near the top of the bag

Geothermal pools are the national pastime and every town has one. Bring swimwear, flip-flops, and a quick-dry towel — and know that pool etiquette requires a thorough naked shower before you enter, in an open communal area. This is non-negotiable and enforced. Knowing it in advance is the difference between a good afternoon and an awkward one.

Skip the cash, bring the sunglasses

Iceland is close to cashless — cards work at fuel pumps, toilets, and remote cafés, so exchanging money is largely wasted effort. Do bring sunglasses: the sun stays low even at midday, and low-angle glare off wet roads and glaciers is constant. And buy alcohol at the arrivals duty-free before you leave the airport, unless you enjoy paying triple.

Packing List for International Travel: The Complete Checklist A copy-paste packing list for international travel: documents, carry-on essentials, the 5-4-3-2-1 clothing formula, tech, meds, and what to leave home.
How to Budget for a Trip: A Simple Travel Budget That Works Build a travel budget in six categories, split it with a simple rule of thumb, add a 10-15% buffer, and track spending as you go. Worked example included.

Each one is a full list with advice specific to that trip — and the generator underneath it, so you can adjust it to yours.

What to pack for Iceland in summer

Wind is the story, not cold

The midnight sun is not a metaphor

Swimwear lives near the top of the bag

Skip the cash, bring the sunglasses

Your list